I ran upstairs.
Every step felt heavier than the last, like the house was resisting me. The sound grew clearer as I reached the top of the stairs—slow, steady breathing from inside my room.
My door was slightly open.
I stopped a few feet away.
The darkness inside looked thicker than it should have been, even though sunlight filled the hallway. It felt like the light refused to cross the doorway.
The breathing stopped.
I swallowed.
Then I pushed the door open.
Nothing.
My room looked normal. Bed unmade. The desk is cluttered. The curtains are barely moving. No one there. No sound.
I stepped inside cautiously.
The moment I crossed the threshold, the door behind me creaked shut.
I spun around.
"I didn't—" I started but stopped.
The air felt colder again.
Then, softly, from somewhere near my bed…
A whisper.
"…hello."
My heart skipped.
I turned slowly. "Who's there?"
Silence.
Then the whisper again. Barely audible.
"…you heard me."
My throat went dry. "This isn't funny."
No answer.
I took a step toward the bed. The floor creaked. The sound seemed to echo longer than it should.
Another whisper.
"…you spoke first."
I froze.
It was right beside me.
But there was nothing there.
"I'm not imagining this," I said, my voice shaking.
The room felt like it leaned in.
Then, faintly, almost curious…
"…say something again."
I didn't want to. Every instinct told me to run. But something else — something heavier — kept me still.
"Why are you here?" I whispered.
The silence stretched.
Then, softly…
"…because you heard me."
The temperature dropped again. My breath fogged slightly in front of me. I stared at the empty space near the wall crack.
It looked darker than before.
The shadow there slowly deepened.
Not moving. Just… thickening.
"…I know your voice," the whisper said.
My hands trembled. "What do you want?"
The darkness near the wall seemed to pulse.
"…to listen."
A chill ran through me.
The breathing returned, slow and steady, but this time it wasn't inside the walls.
It was right behind me.
I turned quickly.
Nothing.
But I felt it.
Close.
Waiting.
And for the first time… the darkness felt familiar.
Like it had finally found me.